Air distributing outlet



Aug. 2, 1960 c. N. O'DAY AIR DISTRIBUTING OUTLET 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 4, 1957 7 ATTORNEY IN ENT R Cori! W g: V T Q k k Q\ Q kw. A

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Aug. 2, 1960 c. N. ODAY 2,947,238

AIR DISTRIBUTING OUTLET Filed March 4, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY AIR DISTRIBUTING OUTLET Cortland N. ODay, Port Washington, N.Y. Devices, Inc., 185 Madison Ave, New York, N .Y.)

Filed Mar. 4, 1957, Ser. No. 643,592 3 Claims. (CI. 98-40) It has been found most satisfactory according to one embodiment of the present invention to form the distribution outlet in such a manner that a series of transverse separated flanges or fins project across the direction of air flow and control the distribution pattern. Desirably the elongated air distribution device will have a side flange with a gasket to enable close mounting to a wall structure and will have a central rectangular opening the length of which will accommodate itself to the room or 'will be in accordance with the space available.

Extending across this rectangular opening will be a plurality of fins or flanges extending toward each other or parallel to each other with such separations and spacjings asto give a predetermined air pattern.

In the preferred form of the invention the fins or fianges should occupy between 25 and 75% of the total of the rectangular opening and extend toward one another. i

Less preferably, they may be centrally arranged and extending away from each other toward the edges of the'opening.

The least preferred structure is where the flanges extend either toward each other or away from each other and instead of extending transversely across or toward or away from the major axis they are positioned transversely "to the major axis and extend longitudinally of the long dimension of the rectangular opening. It has been found that this type of distribution device is most effective with the smallest number of parts. and that it may be readily assembled out of standard stampings with a minimum of labor cost and a minimum of material cost.

The invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the inven- -tion, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of one form of diffuser outlet according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, transverse sectional view taken upon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view showing the vane construction;

Fig. 4 is a transverse, vertical sectional view upon the 2,947,238 Patented Aug. 2, 1960 line 4-4 of Fig. 1, upon an enlarged scale as compared to Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of an alternative construction;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, rear elevational view of the arrangement of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a transverse, vertical sectional view upon the line 77 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, perspective view partly in section showing still a further alternative arrangement.

Summarizing, there are shown in Figs. 2 to 8 two rows of air deflecting or air diffusing flanges or fins which may be stamped out of a single strip or sheet of metal and which are so positioned thatthe flanges are offset in respect to each other in each successive row'.

In Figs. 1 to 4, the flanges extend away from each other toward the edges of the long dimension of the rectangular opening with the support elements for theflanges being centrally located and with the base of the flanges extending longitudinally along the axis of the diffuser. v

In Figs. 5 to 7 the flanges are mounted along the long dimension of'the periphery of the rectangular diffuser opening and are turned toward each other.

In Fig. 8, the flanges are turned toward each other with one row being mounted along the edge of the opening and the other row being mounted along the middle portion of the opening. It is obvious that three, four or more rows may be employed and it is also obvious that depending upon the number of rows all of the flanges or fins' may extend in the same direction or some may extend toward each other and some in the same direction depending upon the particular air distribution pattern it is desired to achieve.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 3 there is shown a rectangular structure A having long face flanges B and the short extending flanges C. These flanges carry the gaskets D which extend entirely around the periphery of the frame. There is centrally provided an elongated rectangular throat E which forms the inlet passage. The throat E is the passage through which the entering air may pass through the conduit system in the wall or ceiling. Within the throat and face flanges B and C there are positioned the rows of rectangular or transverse vanes F and G which in the embodiment shown are directed away from each other and are centrally supported. Referring particularly to Fig. 2, each row of vanes may be formed or stamped out of an elongated plate or strip '10 which has the slots 11 extending along its horizontal face rand the slots 12 extending along its vertical face to form the fins 13. These strips are bent as indicated at 14 and the fins 13 which are in the plane of the frame BC will control the distribution pattern of the air flowing in the direction H through the throat E. The upper vane F is formed in the same way as the vane G with the fins 15,'the spaces or slots 16 and the bend line 17. The horizontal strips 10 and 18 are clamped together at J, K and L, as shown in Figs. 1-4, and in other places depending upon the length of the diffuser. Normally, these clamp ing means consist of angle members 25, 26 and 27 which have outwardly extending legs between which the strips 10 and 18 are clamped, such legs being indicated at 28 in Fig. 4, and having vertical flanges 29 which are spot welded as indicated at 30 which may be fixed to the frame structure A or to an intermediate U-shaped bracket 31 which is shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4.

This U-shaped bracket has a base 32, as shown in Fig. 3, which carries the clamps or angle members 26 and also has the legs 33 and 34 which are spot welded or otherwise connected to the frame structure A. As shown in Fig. 2, the base 32 may extend through slots 35 in the horizontal strip.10 of the vane G. It will be noted that the outlet end 45 of the throat does not extend to the face 46 of the frame A but that there is an encircling or peripheral bevel 47 which permits an outflow of the air toward the top and bottom of the frame structure Abefore it hits the fins 13 and 15 of the vanes F and G. This will result in an increase of flow upwards and downwardly and give a greater egress of air along the top and bottom of the diffuser. Where the end 45 of the throat is in the plane 46 of the frame A the fins 13 and 15 will then predominantly control the distribution and it Will be noted that they extend as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 so as to cover substantially a major portion of the area of the throat E and their control over the distribution of the air will be lessened by the beveled flow passage at 47 which permits upward and downward flow parallel to the face 46 of the frame A. In the form as shown in Figs. 1-4, the major direction of the flow is upwardly and downwardly with substantial amounts of air passing over the upper and lower edges of the flanges 13 and 15 and additional quantities of air flowing through the slots 12 and 16. It will be noted that the slots 12 and 16 are offset in the direction of the diffuser device so as to cause the flow of air through each slot to be ofl'fset from the flow of air from the next slot and give it desired distribution. The pattern as shown in Figs. 1 4 may be repeated several times in a wide or throat structure E and it has been found with a relatively simple construction as shown in Figs. l4 a most effective distribution of inflowing, ventilating or conditioning air is achieved.

In the embodiment of Figs. -7, the frame I has the gasket K and the rectangular throat flow passage L. The two rows of M and N are mounted along the length of the throat area L and the flanges themselves extend toward each other. As shown, the horizontal flanges 55 and 56 will be mounted upon the walls 57 and 58 of the throat L and the flanges 59 and 60 will extend toward each other, leaving a central gap P through which the major flow of air may take place. The slots 61 and 62 are offset from each other and will permit the flow of air to take place to cause satisfactory distribution and mixing. The U-shaped clips 63 and 64 will reinforce the interior throat structure.

It will be noted that the flanges 59 and 60 are flush with the face 65 of the frame I and that their bend lines '66 and 67 cause the flanges 59 and 60 to be in the same plane as the plane of the frame structure I.

In the embodiment of Fig. 8, the frame structure Q is provided with two rows of vanes R and S which extend toward each other. In this structure it will be noted that the gasket T is held in position by the inturned edge flange 75 in the same manner as Figs. 1-7 and that the throat U has the flange 76 of the upper vane R mounted thereon. The horizontal flange 77 of the lower vane S will be centrally mounted as indicated in Figs. 1-4. The flanges 78 and 79 are offset from each other as are the slots 80 and 81 so as to assure the maximum breaking up disturbance or distribution effect.

It is thus apparent that the present application has provided a most effective simply constructed adaptable air diffuser of the longitudinal type which may be readily positioned on sills and horizontal and vertical structures or doors or upon walls adjacent the ceiling for a controlled distribution of air. The distributing fins or flanges may be formed simply out of strips and readily mounted in the throat structure and by reason of their positioning they can control the flow so that it will be upwardly or downwardly, or both in major part or so that it will be directed transversely inwardly in major part or any combination of the two. The coverage of the throat area by the flanges or fins will most accurately control the air distribution and give a most effective air distribution pattern.

While there has been herein described a preferred form of the invention, it should be understood that the same may be altered in details and in relative arrangement of parts within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is:

1. An air distributor for mounting on a wall or the like, comprising a rectangular frame having a rectangular opening therein and peripheral flanges, a gasket carried within said flanges for sealing said frame against said wall, means forming a throat for the entrance of air to the frame opening, a bevel connecting said throat to said frame opening, parallel vanes mounted in said frame within said throat, each of said vanes being bent to form a curved outer portion and a straight inner portion substantially at right angles to said outer portion, said outer portion having slots whereby fins are formed blocking egress of air from said throat, the fins of one of said vanes being staggered with respect to the fins of the other vane, and means within said throat for holding the vanes therein with the ends of the curved portions of the fins being in the plane of the peripheral flanges of the frame.

2. The outlet of claim 1 wherein the free edges of the curved portions of the fins flare away from each other in opposite directions with their other edges clamped together.

3. The outlet of claim 1 wherein the free edges of the curved portions of the fins extend toward each other with a space therebetween, and their other edges being mounted on the throat forming means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 716,450 Maloney Dec. 23, 1902 2,144,631 Kurth Jan. 24, 1939 2,413,118 Spieth Dec. 24, 1946 2,560,802 Lambert July 17, 1951 2,568,044 Wallen Sept. 18, 1951 2,720,152 Ball Oct. 11; 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 166,135 Germany Dec. 11, 1905 765,149 France Mar. 19, 1934 

